Dr. Aaron J. Griffen Academic & Educational Leadership and Professional Background
Dr. Aaron J. Griffen Author Profile: amazon.com/author/draaronjgriffen
Vice President (VP) of Diversity Equity and Inclusion
DSST Public Schools
July 1, 2020 to Present
As Vice President (VP) of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), my role is to facilitate a multi-year cross-functional DEI strategy, which includes collaborative DEI planning and change management across the DSST Network; provide guidance and support to the school, home office and the Senior Leadership Team; and identify collaborative partnerships with external consultants and organizations. The DEI department at DSST Public Schools, which includes the Manager of DEI, promotes communication and DEI feedback mechanisms in order to ensure a constant examination of organizational data and metrics to uncover disparities, gaps and systemic marginalization. This leads to coordinated efforts of network leaders to align DEI scope and sequence to the leader development plan, which in turn articulates a vision for People Development around DEI - across academics, culture, and student services. Our development plan includes a Social Justice approach and vision for culturally responsive and relevant, trauma informed, and anti-racist curriculum, instruction and programming. Lastly, my role as Vice President (VP) of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a part of the Human Capital Team, which includes, but is not limited to the following:
• Align with our Human Capital hiring partners to develop DEI recruitment and retention goals.
• Collaborate with Talent Operations to construct teacher and school leaders’ Equity Evaluation.
• Supports and sets vision for implementation of Affinity Groups for DSST Public Schools’ Staff.
• Manages DEI resource, human capital, and on-boarding budget in alignment to network priorities and goals.
Adjunct Professor, Education Programs
Argosy University
January 2018 - Present
Courses taught provide an examination of educational issues pertinent to administration within the context of the current demographic realities found within the United States. Focus is on the dimensions of diversity, the development and importance of an equitable curriculum and its impact on students and adults.
Directory of Diversity Equity and Inclusion
DSST Public Schools
May 1, 2018 to July 1, 2020
As Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, I have the opportunity to develop and manage a multi-year equity plan that supports the DSST Public Schools Strategic Plan and our Equity Working Group in partnership with the National Equity Project. In addition, I get to work collaboratively across the organization to manifest DSST Public School’s commitment to equity into day to day actions and develop consistent communication and feedback mechanisms to ensure we are able to identify, discuss and address equity issues impacting our students, schools and staff members. Additionally, in partnership with the Senior Manager of Leadership Development and Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition, we integrate our beliefs in equity into the scope and sequence while we lead, manage, and execute any specific sessions and strands that come out of our collaboration. This includes facilitating and leading the aligned sessions to build capacity of others to lead equity trainings, discussions, facilitations.
AERA (SIG) Coordinator - School and University Partnerships
April 2016 to April 2019
As the Coordinator of School/University Partnerships for the AERA SIG "A Critical Examination of Race Ethnicity Class and Gender", I worked with other university partners to develop a working stream of partnership initiatives where the university expanded beyond the schools into the communities.
Principal
Sierra High School
May 2014 to May 2018
As Principal of Sierra High School I had to privilege of working in a culturally, linguistically, economically, educationally, and diverse community school that is steeped in academic and athletic tradition where students' unique talents and gifts are exposed, examined and explored. We ensured that while earning college credits on campus and becoming community leaders, innovators and socially conscious thinkers, student opportunities were limitless as they were immersed in Advanced Placement and Concurrent Enrollment courses, AVID, AVP, and the gtPathways - all in collaboration with Sierra's highly qualified, dedicated and skilled faculty and staff.